Community

Pasco woman ties for fifth in billiards tournament

By KELLIE DIXON, Times Staff Writer
Published September 18, 2007

Leslie Davis-Blaikie, a Pasco County resident, finished tied for fifth in the Florida State Ladies Championship, a billiards tournament held recently in Spring Hill.

Capone's Billiards hosted the tournament, which was Sept. 8-9, and Monica Webb took first place and the $740 purse. Webb is ranked fourth nationally.

Davis-Blaikie took home $160. Spring Hill residents Tracie Hines and Wendy Breton finished in the top 13. Hines finished tied for ninth and earned $90. Breton finished tied for 13th and earned $65.

Men's billiards tournament: Capone's Billiards will host the men's pro event Saturday and Sunday and will use this event as another fundraiser for the Amato family. Three-year-old Brandon Amato was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in May and has to undergo frequent chemotherapy treatments. Joe Amato, Brandon's father, also has battled his own illnesses and had several surgeries. Capone's Billiards raised $1,650 for the Amatos during the Ladies Pro Spirit event in early September.

5-mile run: The Rattlesnake Run, a 5-mile trek through Pasco County, will be Oct. 20. The race will start at 8 a.m. in San Antonio.

The race is in its 29th year and is the second oldest in the Tampa Bay area. The 41st Rattlesnake Festival will be after the races.

There also will be 1-mile events - a fun run, a 1-mile team fun run where an adult and child run together, and a 1-mile runner-dog team run where owners and leashed dogs run together.

Cost is $15 for the 5-mile and $13 for the 1-mile if you register by Oct. 16. The 1-mile team event is $20 and the dog race is $15. Race-day registration begins at 6:45 a.m. Visit www.rattlesnakerun.com for a printable entry form or for more information. Visit www.active.com to register online. Participants will receive a T-shirt and race pack, plus be eligible for giveaways and finisher prizes.

Tennis: The USTA's Grand Slam Futures Tampa Bay tournament will be at two locations in Pasco from Jan. 8-13. The tournament was at the city of Tampa Tennis Complex at Hillsborough Community College. The complex is closing so the tournament is being moved.

The women will play at Saint Leo University's tennis complex, and the men will play at Saddlebrook Resort. Prize money is $25,000 for the women and $10,000 for the men. Qualifying will be Jan. 4 for the men and Jan. 6 for the women. There will be no admission charge.

Submit upcoming events and information to communitysports@tampabay.com or by fax 352 754-6133.

[Last modified September 17, 2007, 20:20:24]